Suction cleaner



4Oct. 18, 1932. B C; BECKER 1,883,327

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Feb. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Li :z F15 Oct. 18, 1932. B C, BECKER 1,883,327

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Feb. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT.. OFFICE BERNARD C. BECKER, or YCRR, rENNsYEvANIA, AssrGNoR 'rowspan HoovER COMPANY, or NCRTH CANTON, 0310,11 CoRroRA'rroN oE'oRIo SUCTION CLEANER Application led February Q, 1931. Serial No. 514,011.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and in particular to new and novel means for improving the cleaning efficiency of a suction cleaner. More specifically the invention relates to a new and improved suction cleaner nozzle construction in which the areaof the nozzle mouth, that portion of the nozzle defined by the nozzle lips and which is adapted to contact the surface covering undergoing cleaning, is adjustable in size for the purpose of controlling the surface covering displacement therein.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. A further object is the provision of a new and improved suction cleaner nozzle. Another obj ect is the provision of a new and improved suction cleaner nozzle having adjustable nozzle lips. A still further object is the provision of a suction cleaner nozzle having a variable area mouth. Still another object is the provision, ima suction cleaner, of 'a nozzle whose surfacecontacting area can be varied by the operator. Other and more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and considering, in connection therewith, the attached drawings.

In the drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed:

Fig. 1 is the side view of a modern suction cleaner, shown partly broken away and in section, with theA present invention embodied therein, v

Fig. 2 is apartial bottom view of the cleaner shown in Fig. 1, F Fig. 3 is a section upon the line 3 3 of ig. 2, fFlrig. 43is a partial section upon the line 4 4 o 1g.

Fig. 5 is a view upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing one end of the nozzle.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the adjustable rear nozzle lip and its carrying frame,

Fig. 7 is a section upon the line 7 7 of Fig.

8 showing a modified adjusting mechanism,

Fig. 8 is a rear view of a nozzle embodying the modified rear lip adjusting mechanism shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a partial bottom view of a cleaner `oted rear lip,

embodying the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8,

:Fig 10 is a partial cross section thru a nozzle embodying the pivoting front lip construction shown in Figure 11,

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of adjustable front nozzle lip,

Fig. 12 is a partial section thru a suction cleaner nozzle embodying an adjustable, piva pivoted Fig. 13 is aview in perspective 'of the nozzle lip embodied in the cleaner construction shown in Fig. 12.

In modern suction cleaners of the straight air type, that is that type which reliessolely uponair to do its cleaning, the nozzle suction or vacuum has been increased to a relatively high degree for the purpose of obtaining more eiicient cleaning. The use of the high vacuum suction cleaner in the home and upon various types of surface coverings creates a problem however, which was not encountered with the old type low vacuum cleaner. In the use of a suction cleaner upon a surface covering the suction of the cleaner functions to displace the surface covering from the supporting iioor and lift it against the noz- Azle lips causing the air rushingunder those lips to pass thru the pile ofthe covering and remove the embedded foreign matter. In the cleaning of heavy, long pile, covering it is desirable that ythe nozzle area be relatively great as the covering is comparatively hea and a relatively eat lifting force is require to displace it, 1t leing apparent that the total lifting force is proportional to the effective ciably and undesirably increased. This is 10 face covering, it ijs necessary either to decrease the effective suction, thereby exerting a smaller lifting force upon the surface covering, or to decrease the surface-contacting area of the nozzle mouth thereby decreasing the effective lifting area and so the total lift. The lirst method is obviously7 undesirable inasmuch as it represents a decrease in cleaning efficiency. The method'of decreasing the nozzle area is most desirable and particularly so, when the variation in nozzle area is accomplished by varying the distance between the front and rear` nozzle lips, as the length of the portion of the surface covering which is then to be flexed is decreased.

Accordingly the present invention provides a -modern suction cleaner which embodies a new improved and novel construction by which the nozzle mouth area can be varied in that manner.

Referring again to the drawings, and Figures 1 to 6 in-particular, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed embodied in a modern suction cleaner. The cleaner is ofthe usual type comprising a nozzle 1 which opens to a fan chamber 2 formed integrally therewith as a single casting. A motor casing 3 is positioned immediately in the rear of the fan casing 2 and houses a suitable driving motor for the suction-creating fan 4 positioned within the easing or chamber 2, said fan .being carried upon the extended end of the motor shaft 5. A suitable dust `bag 6 is provided which is connected to the exhaust outlet of the fan chamber as in the usuaLsuction cleaner. The cleaner is movably supported by means of front supporting wheels 7, 7 which are provided with height-adjusting means indicated generally bythe reference character 8, and rear supporting wheels 9. Thru the use of the height-adjusting means 8 the ,cleaner may be pivoted about the rear supporting wheel as a pivot point to raise and lower the cleaner nozzle relative to the surface covering, an adjustment which is often made necessary by moving the cleaner from a surface covering havlng pile of one length to a covering having L pile of a different length. A suitable handle 10 is pivoted to the motor casing 3, being provided with position-securing means 11 by which the cleaner may be propelled by the operator.

The present invention comprises the provision, in the nozzle 1, of means by which the area of the nozzle mouth, that being the surface-'contacting area defined byy theifront and rear lip and the end walls which extend therebetween, can be varied. In'the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, a front lip 12 is permanently and rigidly secured to the nozzle proper by suitable means such as 13, while the rear lip ,14 is mounted slidably relative to the nozzle thru being carried by a frame or plate 15, each end of which is horizontally slidable within a groove 16 in each end wall of the nozzle. Between its ends the frame 15 is supported by a bottom plate 17 which is rigidly carried by the rear wall of nozzle 1 by means of screws 18, 18 etc. which extend upwardly thru the frame 15 passing thru slots 19, 19 formed to accommodate them. The frame 15 is not clamped to the nozzle by the plate 17 but is freely slidable relative thereto.

Near the opposite ends of the frame 15 rearwardly and upwardly projecting spaced lugs or arms 20, 20 are provided which carry spring members 21, 21 which contact the adjacent rear wall of the nozzle 1 and serve to urge the frame 15, and so the rear nozzle lip 14, from the front lip 12. The plate 17 is also provided with rearwardly and upwardly projecting spaced lugs 22, 22 which are providedwith threaded bores thru which screwthreaded adjusting members 23, 23 are adapted to be advanced or retracted relative to the lugs 22, 22. Rotatable members 23, 23 contact the lugs 20, 20, formed integrally on the frame 15, at their forward ends and urge that frame forwardly, or in the direction of the front nozzle lip 12, against the force exerted by the springs 21, 21 or, upon b-eing retracted, permit the frame 15 to be urged rearwardly under the force exerted by springs. Each lug 22 carries a rearwardly extending spring member 24 which contacts the knurled head 23a and holds it against unintended rotation thru extending within suitable parallel grooves formed in its surface. It is apparent that to adjust the area of the nozzle mouth according to the present embodiment of the invention it is only necessary for theoperator to rotate the adjusting screws 23, 23 resulting in the advance or retraction of the rear nozzle lip 14 relative to the front nozzle lip 12.

Referring now `to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures?, 8 and 9, the cleaner nozzle is again indicated by the reference character 1; the front lip by 12; the rear lip, by 14; the rear lip frame by 15; and the bottom plate of the nozzle by the reference character 17. The present embodiment of the invention differs from the aforedescribed embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, only in the'means by which the adjustment of the rear nozzle lip 14is accomplished. According to the presentembodiment the rigidly carried bottom plate 17 l llO is provided with rearwardly spaced support iso which, at one outer end, is provided with a knurled knob 27. Shaft 26 carries toothed gears 28, 28 closely adjacent the twoouter supports 25, 25 which intermesh with a horizontallyf'extended rack 29 carried by the rear nozzle lip frame 15.

In the adjustment of the position of the rear nozzle lip 14 in the embodiment of the invention just described it is only necessary for the operator to rotate the knob 27 in the correct direction, which will depend upon whether he wishes to decrease or increase the area of the mouth, to advance or retract the rear nozzle lip 14 relativeto the front nozzle lip 12. The rotation of knob 27 is accompanied by the rotation of shaft 26 and the rigidly carried gears 28, 28 which, thru their coaction with the toothed racks 29 carried by frame 15 serve to horizontally move that frame relative to the nozzle. As in the previous embodiment a spring latch 30 is carried which is adapted to coact with grooves in the knob 27 for the purpose of preventing unintended rotation.

In Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings a still further embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in which the 'nozzle 1 is provided with a rigidly carried rear lip 3l while the front nozzle lipis movable to obtain the variation of the nozzlef mouth area.- The front nozzle lip, in the present embodiment of the invention, is of the double-lip type comprising an outer rigid lip 32 and an inner lip 33 which is pivotally'secured, and substantially sealed to the upper portion of lip 32, and is resiliently urged therefrom by means of coil springs 34, 34 mounted upon the pivot axis 35 of lip 33. Both lips 33 and 32 are secured to the lower extremity of the permanently connected nozzle wall' 1 by suitable means such as screw-s 36. To limit and vary the displacement of the inner nozzle lip 33 from the outer front nozzle lip 32, a rigidly carried projecting arm 33a is provide which is adapted to be contacted by the manually operable screw-threaded member 37 which extends thru the front nozzle wall in screw-threaded relation, being adapted to be advanced or'retracted therefrom. The rotation of threaded member 37 in one direction, thru the use of its knurled head 37a, ad vances that member further into the nozzle 1 forcing the pivoted lip 33 toward the rigid front lip 32 against the force exerted by the coil springs 34. The retraction of the inem,-

1 ber 37 has the opposite elect and permits the coil spring to pivot the lip 33 from the lip 32 and toward the rear lip 31. In either case the action is to vary the nozzle mouth area, that is, that area between the rear lip 31 and the upward lip 433 and between the stationary nozzle end walls.

ported relative thereto by means of a plate 40 rigidly secured to the lower extremity of the rear nozzle wall. Plate 40 carries an elongated pin 41 on which the lip 39 is pivotally supported as are coil springs 42, 42 which exert a pivoting force upon the lip 39 tending to advancek` it in the direction of the front nozzle lips 38. Manually adjustable screwthreaded means 43 having asuitable head is movably supporting said lip and manually operable means to adjust said lip relative to said nozzle to vary the area of said mouth.

2. In a suction cleaner nozzle having a mouth, a front lip defining one side of said mouth, a rear lip defining the other side, means movably supporting said rear lip and manually operable meansv to move said rear lip relative to said front lip to vary the mouth area.

3. In a suction cleaner nozzle having a mouth, a front lip Vdeining one side of said fmouth, a rear lip dening the opposite side of said mouth, means supporting said rear lip for free sliding movement, and. manually operable means to slide said rear lip toward or from said Jfront lip to vary the mouth area. 4. In a suction cleaner nozzle, a lip dening one side of the nozzle mouth, a toothed rack connected to said lip, means movably supporting said lip and said rack, a rotatable pinion carried by said nozzle in operative relationship to said rack, and manually operable means to rotate said pinion to move said d rack and said lip.

5. In'a suction cleaner nozzle, a lip delining one side of said nozzle, means movably supporting said lip, a manually rotatable nut positioned outside the confines of said nozzle for use with the nozzle in operative position, and means to adjust the position of said lip upon the rotation of said nut.

Signed at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, this 28th day of anuary, A. D., 1931.

BERNARD C. BECKER.

In theV embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 12 and 13 the front nozzle lip 38 is mounted rigidly relative to the nozzle while the rear nozz e lip 39 is pivotally sup- 

